Political Suppression versus Political Repression: The Similarities of Political Repression in The Middle East and Felon Disenfranchisement in The United States
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Date
2023-12
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The analysis of political institutions tends to be inconsistent. The current scenario we are dealing with is one country being put on a pedestal. The other country (ies) is analyzed with rose-tinted glasses, and it has led to motivated misperception. The United States and the Middle East may be different in terms of political institutions, location, history, and norms. Moreover, when it comes to maintaining the status quo and order, the United States and the Middle East are similar. The United States has enforced a practice that has evolved in the last century that prevents individuals from being able to vote and they claim that they have universal suffrage. The practice is called felon disenfranchisement, and it has been used to maintain the status quo. It has been justified using liberal theory however, the history of why it was enforced has been ignored. Middle Eastern countries such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia enforce practices to maintain the status quo. We have heard silence when it comes to the United States's political institutions but loud voices when it comes to Middle Eastern political institutions. A thorough analysis of political dynamics consists of multiple elements and determines how those elements connect. In this project, I will analyze The United States and the Middle East by using a multidimensional approach. The inquiry incorporates a historical analysis, a comparative analysis, a theoretical analysis, and a political analysis. Using this approach, I argue that the Middle East and the United States use tactics that hinder their democratic legitimacy.
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Keywords
Comparative Politics, Democracy, Middle Eastern Politics, Political Repression, Felon disenfranchisement